Subba taken ill, moved to Guwahati

PRANAB KUMAR DAS

Mani Kumar Subba in the ICU of GNRC Hospitals in Guwahati on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos

Tezpur, April 3: Former Congress MP and Independent candidate from Tezpur, Mani Kumar Subba, was admitted to GNRC Hospitals in Guwahati this evening after he fell ill at his Harmuti residence in Sonitpur district.

Mrinal Ali Hazarika, public relations officer of the hospital, told this correspondent that a team of cardiologists and neurologists was examining Subba and medical investigations were being conducted to ascertain whether he had suffered a stroke.

“His blood pressure is high and he is currently unconscious. His condition is stable but he is still not out of danger. We can say more about his health after all tests are completed,” Hazarika said.

A close relative of Subba said all preliminary medication had been given to him. “At this moment, we have not decided to take him for advanced treatment outside the state,” he said.

Subba was initially taken to Saumarpith hospital in Lakhimpur this morning. Around 1.45 this afternoon, he was shifted to GNRC Hospitals from Lilabari airport in Lakhimpur district by air ambulance.

Lalit Gogoi, Sonitpur deputy commissioner, said Subba’s election agent had informed the administration about his illness.

As the news of Subba’s condition spread in Sonitpur district, his supporters rushed to Guwahati to meet him. Subba was scheduled to address several rallies in Tezpur today, as campaigning for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls ends on Saturday.

While Subba was being shifted to Guwahati at 1.30pm, an untoward situation took place between his supporters and CISF personnel at Lilabari airport, after the guards prevented them from entering the premises.

Subba had filed his nomination for the Tezpur seat on March 20.

The 56-year-old leader has represented Tezpur parliamentary constituency thrice since 1998. He decided to contest this year as an Independent after the Congress denied him a ticket. Subba had lost the 2009 Lok Sabha polls while fighting on a Congress ticket. The number of voters stands at 1,088,963.

The Congress is confident that Subba will not be a factor against its present candidate, Bhupen Bora, the MLA from Bihpuria. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi has asserted that Subba would not hamper the prospects of Bora.

On the other hand, Subba has argued that his fight is against the BJP candidate R.S. Sarmah. He said the Congress was not in a position to put up a fight. The AIUDF has decided to support Subba.